"Difficult to Say Good-Bye" is heard on Ellen Hoffman's 1998 album, Daydreams. Ellen composed this song for extraordinary vocalist Mark Murphy, after he suffered a profound loss. Mark originally recorded it on his 1993 album One for Jr. (with Sheila Jordan). On Ellen's album Daydreams, Bay Area vocalist Tina Marzell sings a tender version of the song "Difficult to Say Good-bye" that is all the more poignant for being straight-forward and unadorned. The song beautifully expresses the tender fragility of loss and confusion. The album Daydreams is a mix of solo piano and vocal/piano duos. The album is thoughtful and contemplative, as if time doesn’t matter. Here are the deepest human traits and feelings, and they’re being savored. Ellen is not the first pianist to strip away all but the essence of the tune, but her artistry and musical viewpoint are unique. The songs are buoyed by rich full chords, tied to one exquisite melody after another. Mark Murphy is featured on the album singing the Duke Ellington classic “Daydream.” Another vocalist featured is Latin music artist Pete Escovedo, not known as a singer, but here he sounds sweet, sincere, and wonderful. Also included are Ellen’s solo piano versions of “Black Coffee”, as well as “I’ve Grown Accustomed to Her Face”, the Lerner & Lowe hit from My Fair Lady, and Some Other Time, the Leonard Bernstein song which has inspired so many jazz artists.